Water-saving device for flush tanks



jam 1953 A. E. BLAIR 2,626,401

WATER-SAVING DEVICE FOR FLUSH TANKS Filed April 2, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET l i I ((5 Q; Q INVENTOR.

{8 gen N 7 1 U f) ATHOL E- BLAIR ATTORNEYS Jam 27, 1953 A. E. BLAIR 2,626,401

WATER-SAVING DEVICE FOR FLUSH TANKS Filed April 2, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 mummy INVENTOR.

ATHOL. E. BLAIR AT ORNEYS Patented Jan. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- WATER-SAVING DEVICE FOR FLUSH TANKS Athol E. Blair, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Application April 2, 1951, Serial:N0. 218,750

v 4. Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in a water-saving device for flush tanks, and more particularly to tanks employed for flushing toilet bowls. It relates to extension of improvements over my copending application, entitled Valve Closing Mechanism for Water Closets. which was filed in the Unted States Patent Ofiice on January 30, 1951, Serial No. 208,526.

In the conventional flushing tank, a predetermined amount of water is delivered thereto through a float-controlled inlet valve. The volume of this stored water is re arded suflicient for the proper flushing of a toilet bowl. However, when the outlet valve is raised to allow discharge of the water from the tank to the bowl, the float descends with the water level, thereby permitt ng considerable additional water to enter the tank during the flushing operation. Inasmuch as the outlet valve is opened at this time, the additional water will be discharged into the bowl. since the outlet valve remains un eated until the flushing is completed. Consenuently, this results in a considerable waste of water.

Accordingly, the cardinal object of this invention is to provide a water-saving device, which is adapted to retain the incoming float-actuated valve in closed position until su stantally the time that the flushin of the bowl has been completed. Thu no additional water is allowed to enter the tank and became discharged therefrom, along with the water previously stored in the tank.

Moreover, I propose to provide a device of the character describedv which mat be readily installed in a conventional flush tank, without requiring any alterations in the mechanism of the latter.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The novel features of my invention will be set forth in theclaims hereunto appended.

Drawings While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description Referring now to the drawings, I disclose a flush tank designated generally at A. This tank is provided with a conventional float-operated valve B, which allows a predetermined volume of water C to enter the tank through an inlet pipe It. Moreover, this tank includes an outlet fitting i I, which delivers the supply of Water to a toilet bowl (not shown) when an outlet valve-D is unseated.

In its stru tural features, the inlet valve B includes a ca ing I2 surmounting the pipe l0, which is provided with a recinrocable plunger l4. Upon allowing this plunger to r se. water will flow through a discharge pipe l5 into the tank A. As the level of this incoming water rises in the tank, a float It operates to close the valve B when the water reaches the height shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. However, when the water level descends due to a flu hing operation, and the float occupies its dot-dash l ne position inthis view. the plunger [4 will be projected upwardly and the tank will be refilled again.

It will be noted that a rectangular-shaped frame I! is swingably attached by trunnions l8 to the valve body 12 (see Figure 1). An inverted U-shaped yoke l9 has its lower ends pivotally mounted by pins 2!! to opposing sides of the frame H. The closed end 'l9a'of this yoke overlies and bears against the top of the plunger 14'. As further shown in Figure 1, the frame ll has a boss 2| fixed thereto. An operating rod 22 has one end thereof attached to this boss, while its opposite end is connected to the float It in the usualway.

Therefore, when the yoke I 9 is pulled downwardly, due to the water 0 rising to the level shown in Figure l, the plunger 14 is depressed to out off further inflow of water. This arrangement is conventional in flush. tanks for toilet bowls.

The flushingmechanism includes: a lever" 23, which has one end thereof clamped bya nut 24 to a stub shaft 25., the latter being fastened. to a swingably-mountedhandle 25 disposedexteriorly of the tank. The lever 23' normally occupies a slight downwardly-inclined position, as shown in full lines in Figure 1, and; rests against. a lower stop 21. When the handle 216 is depressed fora flushing operation, this lever is swung in the directlon of the arrow 28 until it contacts with an upper stop 29 (see Figure 1) As a part of the usual flushing mechanism, an overflow pipe 30 is provided, which communicates through a horizontal passageway 3| with the bore I la of the outlet fitting l I. The upper end of this fitting is fashioned with a seat 32 disposed above the passageway 3| (see Figure 1) The seat 32 is designed to receive the lower spherical portion 33 of the outlet valve D. The upper part 34 of this valve is conical-shaped, and is loosely connected by a screw 35 to an eyelet 36 of a valvelifting stem 31. The construction is such that the outlet valve D will have a limited universal movement relative to its stem.

It will be noted that a loop 38 is formed at the upper end of the stem 31, which is adapted to be engaged through any one of a series of openings 39 provided in the forward section of the lever 23. The loop is large enough to permit a loose pivoted connection between the stem and the lever.

After the valve D has been unseated, it will float on the surface of the water as the latter is discharged from the tank through the outlet bore Ila. During the flushing operation, the valve D and its stem 3'! will retain the lever 23 in the raised dot-dash line position in Figure 1. When the water level in the tank drops substantially to the top of the fitting I I, the valve D will descend again to the seat 32, closing off further discharge of water from the tank.

In the ordinary flushing mechanism, the stem 31 is slidably guided relative to the lever 23. However, in my arrangement, the buoyancy of the valve D is sufiicient to hold the lever 23 in raised position while the flushing continues.

My copending application, Serial No. 208,526, discloses the details of a valve cage guide designated generally at E. It has a lower ring 48, which is designed to be telescoped over the outlet fitting ll. Moreover, an upper ring 4| is provided at the top of this cage. The rings 49-4| are interconnected by upstanding bars 42 that are spaced laterally from on another to define water passageways 43 in the cage. The purpose of these passageways is to permit water to flow from the tank A into the outlet fitting i I when the valve D is raised. These bars serve as guides to preclude undue lateral swinging of the valve D on the stem 31 during the liftin of this valve and the subsequent seating thereof.

The top of the cage E is provided with a diametrically-extending strip 44 thereon, and the latter has a slot 45 that serves to guide the stem 31. For the purpose of holding the cage in place, an arm 46 is anchored by a set-screw 41 to the overflow pipe 30. The free end 48 of this arm bears against the strip 44 to removably retain the cage on the outlet fitting.

In Figures 2 and 3, I disclose an L-shaped bar 49, which has its leg 49a extending longitudinally of the tank A. This leg is butted against the lever 23 and is secured thereto by a suitable clamp 59. Thus the bar 49 and the lever 23 swing as a unit about the stub shaft 25, while permitting the bar to be adjusted toward or away from the end wall of the tank. The other leg 49b is disposed transversely with respect to the tank, and is fashioned with an opening 52 adjacent its free end (see Figure 2).

For the purpose of maintaining the operating rod 22 in its full-line position in Figure 1 during a flushing operation, and thereby preventing additional water from entering the tank A until the latter has been substantially emptied, I make use of a float-control lever F. This lever is pivotally secured at 53 to a bifurcated stud 54, this pivot being axially aligned with the stub shaft 25, as clearly shown in Figure 3. A number of openings 53a may be provided in the stud 54,to allow the pivot 53 to be adjusted vertically.

As illustrated, the lever F has a bolt 55 formed integral therewith, which extends through the opening 52 of the leg 49b. Suitable locking nuts 56 are provided on this bolt to clamp the latter to the transverse leg 491). It will be quite ap parent that the levers 23 and F, together with the bar 49 define a substantially U-shaped frame, which is mounted for swinging about the shaft 25 and the pivot 53. Appropriate counterweights 5! are adjustably carried by this frame.- These weights may be shifted to give proper bal ance to the frame.

In order to support the stud'54, I provide a bracket G which is mounted transversely of the tank A. This bracket includes extensible strips 58 having feet 59 at their outer ends. These feet rest on the tops of the front and rear walls 60 and BI, respectively, of the tank A. When the cover 62 of the tank is applied, it bears against the feet 59 so as to retain the bracket G in place. Screws 63 and a slot 64 permit the strips 58 to be adjusted longitudinally to one another, thus accommodating the bracket G to tanks of various sizes. The stud 54 passes through a slot 65 in the rearmost strip 58, and is anchored to the latter by nuts 66 arranged above and below this strip (see Figure 1) At the forward section of the lever F there is mounted a U-shaped bail 61. This bail has the upper ends of its legs 61a swingably secured to the lever F by a bolt 68, the latter passing through a selected opening 69 in the lever. It is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3 that this bail depends from the lever F, with its legs straddling and guiding the operating rod 22 of the float.

When the levers 23 and F are inclined downwardly from the stub shaft 25 and pivot 53, respectively, as shown by full lilies in Figure 1, and the tank is filled with water C to the level shown in this view, the transverse bottom position 10 of the bail is spaced below the rod 22. At this time, the valve D engages with its seat 32.

However, upon depres ing the handle 26, and thereby unseating the valve D to permit a flushing operation, the bail 61 will be raised into its dot-dash line position shown in Figure 1. This brings the bottom portion 10 of the bail into engagement with the rod 22, holding the floatoperated valve B closed as long as the levers 23 and F occupy their forward and upwardly-inclined dot-dash line positions.

The buoyancy of the valve D causes the latter to remain unseated until the water level drops substantially to the top of the outlet fitting I I. Accordingly, the stem 37 will retain the levers 23 and F in their raised positions, preventing additional inflow of water to the tank A, until the flushing operation is completed. However, as the valve D approaches its seat, the bail 6'! will be lowered, permitting the float IE to descend and thus will open the valve B.

Considerable amount of Water is saved by my arrangement, since the incoming flow of water from the valve B to the tank A is precluded while the outlet valve D remains unseated.

Summary I Assuming that the various parts of the flushmg apparatus and my water saver device have been installed in the tank'A in the manner disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, the operation is summarized as follows:

The volume of water C" contained in the tank is regarded as sufiicient for flushing a toilet bowl, with no additional water required to effect complete flushing. When the water level reaches that illustrated in Figure l, the float-operated valve B is closed by the float It; the outlet valve D rests on its seat 32; the levers 23 and F are inclined downwardly and forwardly in manner shown by full lines in Figure 1; and the bottom portion 19 of the ball 6'! is spaced below the rod 22 of the float. This may be regarded as constituting the normal positions of the several parts.

When it is desired to discharge the water C through the outlet bore lid for flushing a toilet bowl, the free end of the handle 26 is depressed. This will result in. swinging both the levers 23 and F into upwardly and forwardly inclined positions, as suggested by the dot-dash lines in Figure 1.

Raising of the lever 23 will lift the valve D from its seat 32, and the water will commence to discharge through the bore lid. The buoyancy of this elevated valve and the interposed stem 3?, will retain the lever 23 in its raised position, until the water level drops substantially to the top of the outlet fitting.

As the lever 23 is swung upwardly, due to depressing the handle 25, the lever F will move upwardly, due to the L-shaped arm 49 connecting these levers together into a unitary frame or structure. This movement of the lever F will elevate the bail 6?, with the bottom portion m of the latter coming into engagement with the rod 22 of the float I 6. Accordingly, the float cannot descend at this time, and the valve B will remain closed.

The water continues to pour through the bore Ha, with the valve B remaining closed. However, when the water level drops suificiently, the valve D will start to descend, which will lower the bail 6'5. Thereupon, the float It will start to swing into its dot-dash line position in Figure 1. About this time, the valve D reaches its seat 32; the valve B will open; and water will commence to issue from the discharge pipe IE to refill the tank A.

As the water level rises again, the float I6 will be raised, pulling down on the yoke 19 and finally closing the float-operated valve B. This will restore the several parts to their normal positions, completing the flushing cycle.

I claim:

1. The combination with a flush tank having an inlet pipe for delivering water thereto, and an outlet fitting for discharge of water therefrom; a float-operated valve connected to the inlet pipe and having an operating rod extending therefrom on which a float is secured for controlling inflow of water to the tank; a discharge valve arranged to seat upon and coacting with the outlet fitting to control outflow of water from the tank; and a pivotally-mounted flushing lever arranged to be moved between lowered and raised positions; of a water-saving device comprising: a stern having a lower end attached to the outlet valve, and an upper end anchored to the lever so that the stem will unseat the outlet valve when the lever is raised; the flushing lever being substantially balanced about its pivot and the outlet valve having sufiicient buoyancy to automatically maintain the stem and lever in their raisedpositions' until the water level descends to a predetermined point during a flushing operation; and meansactuated by the flushing lever and movable thereby for engaging with the opcrating rod of the float-operated valve for maintaining this valve in. closed position until the flushing operation has been substantially completed and the outlet valve descends.

2. The combination with a flush tank having an inlet pipe for delivering water thereto, and an outlet fitting for discharge of water therefrom; an inlet valve connected to this pipe, and having an operating rod extending therefrom on which a float is secured for controlling inflow of water to the tank; a discharge valve arranged to seat upon and coacting with the outlet fitting to control outflow of water from the tank; and a pivotallymounted flushing lever arranged to be moved between lowered and raised positions; of a watersaving device comprising: a stem having a lower end attached to the outlet valve, and an upper end anchored to the. flushin lever sothat the stem will unseat the. outletvalve. when this lever is raised; the. flushing lever being substantially balanced about its pivot and the outlet valve having sufiicient buoyancy to automatically maintain the stem and flushing lever in their raised positions until the water level descends to a predetermined point during a flushing operation; a pivctally-mounted float-control lever interconnected by a bar with the flushing lever to move up and down therewith and actuated thereby; and a bail fastened to the float-control lever to depend therefrom; the bail having a transverse bottom portion underlying the operating rod of the float valve; this bottom portion of the bail being spaced below the operating rod when both the valves are closed; the transverse bottom portion of the bail being movable into engagement with the operatin rod of the float-controlled valve, when the flushing lever is raised to unseat the outlet valve, to retain the float-controlled valve closed until a flushing operation is substantially complete and the outlet valve approaches the outlet fitting.

3. The combination with a flush tank having an inlet pipe for delivering water thereto, and an outlet fitting for discharge of water therefrom; an inlet valve connected to this pipe, and having an operating rod extending therefrom on which a float is secured for controlling inflow of water to the tank; a discharge valve arranged to seat upon and coacting With the outlet fitting to con trol outflow of water from the tank; and a pivotally-mounted flushing lever arranged to be moved between lowered and raised positions; of a water-saving device comprising: a stem having a lower end attached to the outlet valve, and an upper end anchored to the flushing lever so that the stem will unseat the outlet valve when this lever is raised; the flushing lever being substantially balanced about its pivot and the outlet valve having sufiicient buoyancy to automatically maintain the stem and flushing lever in their raised positions until the water level descends to a predetermined point during a flushing operation; a bracket mounted on the tank; a float-control lever swingably attached to this bracket; an L- shaped bar having one leg thereof secured to the flushing lever and its other leg connected to the float-control lever so that these levers will swing together; and a bail fastened to the float-control lever to depend therefrom; the bail having a transverse bottom portion underlying the operating rod of the float valve; this bottom ortion 01' the bail being spaced below the operating rod when both valves are closed; the transverse bottom portion of the bail being movable into engagement with the operating rod of the floatcontrolled valve, when the flushing lever is raised to unseat the outlet valve, to retain the floatcontrolled valve closed until the flushing operation is substantially complete and the outlet valve approaches the outlet fitting.

4. The combination with a flush tank having an outlet pipe for delivering water thereto, and an outlet fitting for discharge of water therefrom; the tank having a cover removably disposed on the top of its walls; an outlet valve connected to this pipe, and having an operating rod extending therefrom on which a float is secured for controlling inflow of water to the tank; a discharge valve arranged to seat upon and coacting with the outlet fitting to control outflow of Water from the tank; and a pivotally-mounted flushing lever arranged to be moved between lowered and raised. positions; of a water-saving device comprising: a stem having a lower end attached to the outlet valve, and an upper end anchored to the flushing lever so that the stem will unseat the outlet valve when this lever is raised; the flushing lever being substantially balanced about its pivot and the outlet valve having sufiicient buoyancy to automatically maintain the stem and the flushing lever in their raised position until the water descends to a predetermined point during a flushing operation; a bracket having feet on opposite ends thereof, which are removably interposed between tops of the walls of the tank and the cover; these feet being held in place by the cover; a float-control lever swingably attached to this bracket; a bar interconnecting the float-control lever with the flushing lever so that both levers will move up and down together; and a bail fastened to the float-control lever to depend therefrom; the bail having a transverse bottom portion underlying the operating rod of the float valve; this bottom portion of the bail being spaced below the operating rod when both the valves are closed; the transverse bottom portion of the bail being movable into engagement with the operating rod of the float-controlled valve, when the flushing lever is raised to unseat the outlet valve, to retain the float-controlled valve closed until a flushing operation is substantially complete and the outlet valve approaches the outlet fitting.

ATI-IOL E. BLAIR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 286,216 Sniffen Oct. 1'7, 1882 1,134,234 Schonmeyer Apr. 6, 1915 1,992,381 Lyons Feb. 26, 1935 2,106,916 Morkisch Feb. 1, 1938 2,158,750 Flaherty May 16, 1939 

